NEW YORK: Fluttering Pakistan flags and deafening roars, New York cricket fans turned out in their thousands to watch greats of the game face off against each other on Saturday — in a baseball stadium.

Australian spin king Shane Warne and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar captained two star-studded teams in a Twenty20 match designed to introduce Americans to what organisers billed as the world’s second most popular sport.

“Sachin, Sachin, Sachin,” screamed the stadium in unison, hundreds wearing blue Indian shirts, many with the record-breaking batsman’s name emblazoned on the back. “Sachin for President,” read one banner. Snacking on hot dogs and nachos, chewing on pretzels and quaffing beer, for many it was the first time in years they had watched live cricket in America, long starved of the sport. The three-hour match will be followed by games in Houston and Los Angeles. Warne told reporters 36,000 people had packed into the Citi Field — home of the New York Mets baseball team — for the game.

There were glamorous women dressed in chic Pakistani shirts and skinny jeans, more sedate married women in dupattas. All were fixated by the action. Tendulkar’s opening stint at the crease saw the concession stands deserted, few willing to waste a second of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Sachin has been my hero growing up so I had to come,” said Akriti, who was born in Delhi but has spent more than half her life in America. She believes Americans could easily embracecricket, and brought along her enthusiastic American husband Scott as proof. “The fact that we in America don’t watch it is kind of sad. Plus there’s a lot of time for commercial breaks so everyone can capitalize on it, you know,” she joked. “I think it’s great.” Big deal “I love it. I’m learning, she’s teaching me,” said Scott, a recruiter. “Once it catches on, I’m sure it’ll take off.”